Vicki Darken
Vicki Darken, née Victoria Ormond (10 March 1923[1] – 3 May 2014), was an Australian landscape painter, based in the Northern Territory.
History
Darken was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, a daughter of Charles Ormond. She attended Parap Primary School[2] and later studied Commercial subjects in Darwin, perhaps at St. Joseph's School.[3]
As Vicki Ormond she was elected the first Miss Northern Territory.[4]
On 25 June 1942 she married policeman Constable Bob Darken (died 17 February 2000), and their tent honeymoon is said to have given Honeymoon Gap in the Western MacDonnell Ranges, its name; subsequently they were posted to outback stations including Tennant Creek and Harts Range. Bob resigned from the force in 1950 and they settled on a station at Simpsons Gap, then moved to Alice Springs when that station was acquired by the Government as a reserve.[4]
Darken was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 1968, which enabled her to study painting in Europe.[5]
She established her own gallery in 1977.[5]
She died at Alice Springs, Northern Territory aged 91, survived by daughters Sondra and Joanne.[6]
References
- ^ "Notes, News and Comments". Northern Standard. No. 7. Northern Territory, Australia. 13 March 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia. Several biographies give 1929 as her year of birth, thus marrying around age 13.
- ^ "Parap School Breaking Up". Northern Standard. No. 88. Northern Territory, Australia. 18 December 1928. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Commercial Examination". Northern Standard. No. 15. Northern Territory, Australia. 21 February 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 4 August 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b "Pioneer Women Hall of Fame: Vicki Darken". Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ a b "Churchill Fellowship: Vicki Darken".
- ^ "Obituary". NT News. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2019.